Ballast Water Convention becomes law in 2017

Few outside shipping’s technical circles understand ballast water management systems – and hell, why should they – but the practice of taking on ballast water in one part of the world and discharging it elsewhere represents one of the greatest threats to many marine ecosystems, as it has resulted in “the spread of invasive aquatic species, which can cause havoc for local ecosystems, affect biodiversity and lead to substantial economic loss”. Last week Finland voted to adopt a convention on ballast water ...